Trump made cannabis decision during heated Oval Office meeting: Exec

OG article by Mills Hayes, Michael Ramsey

December 22, 2025

A U.S. executive from ScottsMiracle-Gro, whose Hawthorne Gardening Company supplies equipment to cannabis growers, described a closed-door Oval Office meeting on December 9, 2025, where President Donald Trump decided to roll back restrictions on marijuana. The meeting, lasting two hours and 15 minutes, involved intense arguments among advocates and opponents of reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. Advocates, including the executive, argued that the change would reduce tax burdens for marijuana businesses. Opponents claimed it could increase accessibility to minors and cause mental issues, assertions the executive dismissed as untrue.

The session included a 40-minute call with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. After hearing both sides, Trump announced his decision to sign an executive order for rescheduling, rejecting a compromise suggestion for Schedule II. He stated that Schedule II was inadequate and insisted on Schedule III or nothing. On December 21, 2025, Trump signed the executive order, directing the U.S. Attorney General to expedite the rescheduling. The order aims to expand medical marijuana and CBD research, noting that Schedule III substances have moderate to low potential for dependence. Trump clarified that the action does not legalize recreational marijuana federally and discourages its recreational use. Several states have legalized recreational use for adults, while some conservative policymakers support regulated medical use.